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112: Letter of introduction for Houghton to Léon Gambetta, 15 Apr. 1878

Welcombe, Stratford on Avon. - Has ordered the fifty pounds to be paid into Robert's account with Drummonds'. Started Robert's "Annual of [New] Poetry" last night, which is a 'beautiful publication'; praises him for publishing, as he has 'no patience for the fastidiousness which refuses to publish because the world has so much to occupy its attentions'; has been waiting for three years for the publication of the life of Sir Charles Dilke. Will send back the [Samuel] Butler books; was very glad to see them, though they are not as good as Butler's "Notes", "Alps and Sanctuaries, and "The Way of All Flesh". [Edmund] Gosse has sent him his life of Swinburne, which looks very good; he and Caroline will read it aloud. Very glad that his 'tribute to dear Paulina Trevelyan comes out as it does'; it is a 'work of gratitude' that has been on his mind, and is 'better than a long biography'.

The Shiffolds. - Thanks his father for his letter and for his 'kindness' in paying the fifty pounds into Robert's account. Is glad his father thought he had done the right thing with the Macaulay notes [on Theocritus]; has now sent in the manuscript and the book will appear soon after Christmas. Will send his father a copy. It will be 'beautifully printed, costing a guinea'; is sorry it will be so expensive, but 'the publishers [the Casanova Society] talk of a cheap edition later on'. Hopes to send his father his translation of Antigone before Christmas; this will be 'quite a cheap book, brought out by the Liverpool University Press'

The New Statesman has been writing about 'that anonymous story about the Prince of Monaco [
The Fall of Prince Florestan of Monaco, originally published in 1874]', which Robert 'always thought was written by Sir Charles Dilke', though the New Statesman seems not to know the author. Is 'almost sure' his father told him that Dilke wrote it.

As his father will have head, Julian has 'cut his knee with a stick, and so cannot go back to school till Wednesday'; there is nothing else wrong with him.

Was 'very much interested' in the correspondence his father sent him [about Sir Charles Dilke's refusal to go to Ireland as Cief Secretary, see 12/396] , which Bessie returned with her letter. Wonders what the 'real motives of Dilke's "gran rifiuto"' were; seems 'hardly credible that it was mere lack of physical courage'; supposes that 'in some way it did not fit with his personal ambitions. But it was not a moment for calculations of that kind'.

Is reading George's History [of England], 'slowly, but with the greatest interest. It is very quietly and soberly told, but with great art'; thinks George 'was right to resist the temptation of putting in brilliant passages, as he could easily have done'. Bessie finished reading Pride and Prejudice aloud to Robert and Julian this evening, and began Great Expectations: a 'greater contrast between two first-rate books would be hard to find. The scene with the convict, and the Christmas dinner that follows, make as fine a beginning of a novel as any' he knows. Fortunately for Julian, he 'seems to be able to enjoy both kinds'. Sends thanks to his mother for her letter; will write to her soon. Hopes his father's hand has got better by now, or 'at least is no more troublesome'.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Comments below the date that it is the 55th anniversary of his and Caroline's wedding. "[The Fall of] Prince Florestan [of Monaco]" was undoubtedly written by [Sir Charles Wentworth] Dilke; it is a 'delicious little piece'; has a presentation copy signed from their 'friend, Florestan'. Very interested by what Robert says about his [translation of] "Theocritus", and about [Sophocles's] "Antigone"; this was always a 'known play' and he saw a translation on stage in London as a little boy, though he remembers nothing about it 'except the beautiful white dresses. Has been re-reading Velleius Paterculus, which would 'almost bear publishing' with his notes and 'still more with Macaulay's". Sorry about Julian; hopes it will 'turn out as favourably' as Robert expects; Mary Caroline's attack of mumps is more serious, and involves 'isolation of the family, and upsetting of plans'; Sir George fears it will spoil 'dear Humphry's prize-getting' which everyone had been looking forward to. Asks Robert in a footnote whether he has read Proust's "Recherché...", and tells him to see last week's ["Times] Literary Supplement".

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Glad Julian has returned 'in good heart'; Sir George has grandchildren all round him now 'waiting for the Verdict': Mary Caroline's degree result is due. Will be fascinating for Robert to supervise the production [at Cambridge Festival Theatre in November of his translation of Aeschylus's "Oresteia", by Terence Gray]. Asks if Robert and Elizabeth have a copy of the aerial photograph of Welcombe; is trying to find out the organisation or company from which it comes. Has been undergoing surgical treatment for four weeks and is not yet recovered; is 'much weakened'. Encloses his 'little correspondence with the "Sunday Times"'; most pleased that the newspapers noticed that [Sir Charles Wentworth] Dilke had refused to go to Dublin [as Chief Secretary for Ireland], and that it was like Sir George 'not to refer to it'; Dilke 'never got over it', and it was one reason people took his 'catastrophe so unsympathetically'.

Wallington, Cambo, Morpeth. - Thanks Robert for his letter [46/333]and discussion of [Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke]: Sir George has never alluded to Dilke's action [refusing the post of Chief Secretary for Ireland], and the journalists have noticed his silence; quotes Robert's letter on Dilke's possible motives, and notes Dilke himself said he would not take the post unless in the Cabinet. Spencer [Cavendish?] was in the Cabinet, but 'Freddy Cavendish' not. Dilke was always friendly, though Sir George does not remember him 'taking any part whatever about Ireland'; Dilke's close ally [Joseph] Chamberlain was 'conspicuously helpful and loyal' to Sir George throughout his time in Ireland, showing 'much delicacy, and self-suppression'. Agrees completely with Robert's praise of George's book [History of England].

Julian, and the family, are lucky to have 'such books, read by such a reader' [Elizabeth]; Great Expectations is a 'striking' result of a return 'to legitimate methods of authorship'. Grouse-shooting today for 'practically' the first time this year, since Charles has been very busy; will make sure that Robert and Elizabeth get some birds. Last Thursday marked the sixth full week of his medical treatment; the 'local injury' [to his hand] is almost better, but he is in general much weaker. Is reading through [Xenophon's] Hellenica for the first time, after finishing Thucydides.

Thanks her for her letter, and declares that he is deeply gratified by the insertion of the letter of 29 May, especially beause he believes it is 'unique in the highest sense.' States that they look forward to Nora's visit. Sends back to her the chapter [of Henry Sidgwick, a Memoir, not included], which, he claims, surpasses his expectations, and is 'a wonderful picture of [Henry's] thought and action.' Hopes that she will not finally insert the three lines of Bullock Hall's until he sees her, and states that his reasons for this wish are literary. Declares that he is very well satisfied by the references to himself. Refers to a passage 'about "the game of law and order being up" ', which, he claims, was used against him 'in ten thousand leaflets, without the context, and most unfairly.' Adds that Henry's own remark about it is quite proper and reasonable. Tells Nora to think over the references to Dilke and to Jebb's garden. Is sure she will 'keep in about the "Sidgwick Road." ' Adds that it is impossible to alter, or criticise in detail, the general construction of an admirable book, and states that this book - unlike any recent biographies 'presents the real person...one's own old friend'.

Had been hoping to see her. Does not think that he shall be able to come until the end of term. Announces that he has written to William to say that he should be glad to stay with him at Oxford from 17 to 23 [December], when his mother is expected to be there. Intends to go to Rugby then for about a fortnight, from 23 December to 5 January. Asks if he may ask Graham Dakyns to stay with them then. Reports that he is pretty fully employed in Cambridge and is enjoying his work, but begins to 'feel the need of taking a little care of digestion etc.' Announces that he has discovered 'what to take for Lunch!', which he heralds as 'a great discovery'; a pot of Liebig's Entractum Carnis. Admits to be 'a little sad' at the way the elections there turned out. Encourages her to read Greater Britain by Dilke. Claims to read hardly any new books now. Reports that his new rooms are 'almost decent'. Asks her to tell Arthur that he consented 'in deference to people who ought to be wiser than [himself], not to bring forward [their] motions again this year: and therefore did not write for his signature'.